Copperheads rally to top Wilmington

For the past two games, the Copperheads have done most of their damage in the late innings — and it’s worked.

After scoring five runs in the top of the ninth inning Thursday night to beat Wilson, Asheboro followed it with a 6-2 win over Wilmington in which the Copperheads didn’t score until they plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Thursday night, Asheboro didn’t get its first hit until the fifth inning. Friday, the team waited until the sixth.

“It’s tough to describe,” said Copperheads coach Keith Ritsche, whose team has won four out of its last five games. “They’re definitely relaxed and mentally focused. I just tell them to be patient. We’re concerned about waiting too long.”

Luckily, the team didn’t wait until the ninth this time.

Down 2-0 after five complete, Asheboro kept Wilmington scoreless in the top of the sixth.

Anthony Marks finally broke the ice in the bottom, leading off with a triple and scoring on Will Albertson’s groundout. The Copperheads then loaded the bases with one out on a single, error and a hit batter. G.K. Young came through with a bases-clearing double to left field that gave Asheboro a 4-2 lead.

“If we just get that leadoff runner on, you score 70 percent of the time,” Ritsche said. “We just need to make sure we aren’t sitting and waiting.”

While the Sharks stranded a baserunner on third in the top of the seventh, Asheboro added another run in the bottom thanks, again, to a Marks triple — this time, with one out. Albertson flew out to center, scoring Marks, making it 5-2 Copperheads.

Sam Foy drew a leadoff walk to start the eighth, but a fielder’s choice and a double play negated any Wilmington threat.

Asheboro scored its final run in the bottom of the eighth as Brandon Krieg drew a one-out walk, stole second and advanced to third on Austin Bossart’s single to left. Krieg and Bossart then pulled a double-steal, giving the Copperheads a 6-2 lead.

Asheboro allowed another leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, but a line-out, fly-out and strikeout followed, ending the game.

Copperheads starter Beau Hilton picked up the win, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and six walks in six innings of work. Stephen Gilmore pitched two innings in relief, giving up no runs and two hits with no strikeouts and a walk. Ryan Harper pitched the ninth, allowing no runs or hits, striking out one and walking one.

For the second straight night, Asheboro played error-less ball behind its hurlers.

“Our defense was excellent,” said Ritsche, whose team leads the Coastal Plain League in errors. “We did it with a new player in the lineup — Colby Barnette at third base. If we keep playing good defense and getting good pitching, we’ll do really well.”

At the plate, Marks went 2-for-3 with two triples and two runs scored, while Krieg scored two runs and Albertson had two RBIs. Young added his three-run double as the team had five hits on the night.

The Copperheads, now at least tied atop the CPL West Division at 6-4, host Florence tonight.